TREND ALERT - OLIVE GREEN

You know how they say nothing is new and everything comes back in style?  Get ready for your new favorite color come spring.  It's not white, or a pastel color. Not even neon.  It's olive.  Yes, olive.

Strong, sophisticated, and timeless, olive green is the perfect color to incorporate into your décor.  It's even been established as one of the hot color trends of 2015.

Olive green has been around in home decor and design for a very long time. There are many ways to use it in a traditional design or mix it with bold textures and colors to make it modern.  It looks amazing paired with a multitude of colors such as white, black, navy, orange, and turquoise.

It also pairs well with brass or gold accents, marble, oil rubbed bronze, dark woods like walnut, leather and animal prints.

Olive green is well-suited to the luxurious textures of mohair and velvet.  The color is very versatile, fresh, and works beautifully in both modern and traditional home designs.  It is a rich, bold color that works well in so many applications.

Are you ready to embrace this old but new again color into your design scheme this year?

BENI OURAIN MOROCCAN RUG

The Beni Ourain is a Moroccan rug, and is one of the hottest trends in home decor.  Designers love to use it because of its versatility and its ability to add depth and texture to a design.

The Beni Ourain "tribe" in Morocco is made up of 17 different Berber tribes that live in the Atlas Mountains.  Many raise sheep at the higher elevations.  The sheep produce excellent high grade wool which goes into the beautiful rugs made by the Beni Ourain tribes. Certain tribes have preferred colors.  Natural dyes were used exclusively in Morocco until the mid to late 20th century. The true vintage and mid-century Beni Ourain rugs are sophisticated and simple - which makes them sought after by the top designers and consumers all over the world.

Patterns usually consist of brown and black lines or abstract shapes against a white or cream background.  Other designs are the Ancient Berber alphabet, geometric designs similar to Navajo-Native American patterns.  Most do not have a border.  Some have fringe and others don't.

The Beni Ourain rugs were used by the most renowned mid-century modern designers such as Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Arne Jacobsen, Alvar Aalto, and Charles and Ray Eames.  Shag carpets were extremely popular during this time, and the Beni Ourains were a step up from the average shag because of their sophisticated nature.  

From a design perspective, this rug is impressive because it really is a neutral but still adds depth and texture to a room.  This Moroccan treasure can easily be transported into any room no matter what style.

CURTAIN CALL

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Shen Yun Performing Arts show in my city.  I was captivated and dazzled by the music and the performers who so delicately led the classical Chinese dance on stage.  It surely was a show that I will never forget and will return to every year.  On the drive home after the show, I kept thinking about the massive and magnificent curtain that dropped down after every scene change and the last curtain call. 

Drapery plays a significant role in styling your interior space.  It adds a dramatic impact or provides a subtle background.  I might consider adding dramatic drapery to one of the rooms in my own home.  How about you, do you like your window treatments light and minimal or are you bold enough for high drama with drapery?

COOL, CLASSIC, CHIC HOME OFFICE

I'm so happy to be back at work in my office, even if my office is right here in my own home.  My home office has an Asian inspired decor, but I suddenly realized that I've grown tired of it and would like a change. I would really like a very sophisticated, classic look and so I took the time to make a mood board for inspiration.  I think it really represents who I am and what my company is all about.  I think it looks great, hope you enjoy it too!

Shop this look:

My Two Designers: Charcoal Stripe Double Roll Wallpaper
Zinc Door: Currey & Company Primo Wall Sconce
Zinc Door: Surya Diversion IV Framed Art
One Kings Lane: Vase w/black flowers
One Kings Lane: Clyfford Sideboard
One Kings Lane: Atomic Age Art Glass Handkerchief Vase
Zinc Door: Arteriors Diana Brass Embossed Authentic Horns
Wayfair: Calvin Top Grain/Antique Brass Chair
One Kings Lane: Barthelemy Desk, Black/Gold
Wayfair: Natural Cowhide Exotic Zebu Rug
Jonathan Adler: Brigitte Chair
Layla Grace: Arden Side Table
Gabby Furniture: Hannah Cabinet
Layla Grace: Oly Studio Jacob Sofa
One Kings Lane: Leopard Velvet Pillow
Art.com: Audrey Hepburn, Cigarillo

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year!  A new year brings a time of reflection and a time to start anew.  A time to learn from your past mistakes and to make good with your new findings.  A time to re-energize your mind, body and soul and to truly find yourself amongst a sea of uncertainties. A time of promise, possibility and to believe that dreams really do come true if you let them. 

It's great to be back at my desk today after a two week holiday.  For me, a new year also brings a time to clear up the old and bring in the new.  New ideas are flooding my mind and new projects promise to bring my business to a whole new level.  Needless to say, my year will be filled with continued hard work, more travels, new business acquaintances, and future oppurtunities.  I feel incredibly focused and motivated to carry out my goals for this wonderful new year.  I wish you all happiness, good health and success in all your endeavors in 2015.